Articulated conveyer



Jan. 10, 1950 J. J. MASON 2,494,302

ARTICULATED CONVEYER Filed Nov. 5, 1945' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

20 a? Jabzea Jfiiczeorz, 2/ 34 BY Jan. 10, 1950 J. J. MASON 2,494,302

ARTICULATED CONVEYER Filed Nov.- 5, 1945. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

40 3 BY Jam .ffifczaarz,

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES- PATENT DFFICE ARTICULATED CONVEYER James J. Mason, Chicago, 111. Application November 5, 1945, Serial No. 626,754

My invention is concerned with improvements in conveyors.

In the handling of material, such as articles, containers, or packages, in factories, warehouses, loading depots, and similar places, by means of conveyors, it is frequently desirable to have available one or more conveyor sections which may be inserted in a conveyor line where it is desired to change the direction of the movement of the material. It is an object of my invention to provide a conveyor construction which may be used for this purpose.

It is an object of my invention to provide an articulated conveyor comprising separable con veyor units or sections which may be arranged in connected relation so that the movement of the material traveling on the conveyor may be in a straight or curved path as desired.

It is an object of my invention to provide articulated conveyor sections which are simple in construction, readily installed in a standard conveyor line, and so constructed that they may be connected in either a straight or a curve line as desired.

It is an object of my invention to provide a I conveyor section or unit which is adapted to be connected either to a standard straight line conveyor section or to other conveyor units of a similar nature;

It is an object of my invention to provide articulated conveyor sections or units which may be joined to each other in either a curved or a straight line and one or more such sections pro- .vided with means for rigidly connecting the same to a standard straight line conveyor section.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from the preferred form of my invention and the several modifications thereof which are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. -1 is a plan of a plurality of my conveyor units connected to each other illustrating both straight'line and curved line arrangements;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of my units with parts broken away;

- Fig. 5 is a plan of a conveyor construction illustrating one unit modified to adapt it for connection with a standard straight line conveyor section and other articulated units provided with modified side bracing or connecting links;

Fig. 6 is an elevation on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan of the standard conveyor connectingunit of Fig. 5, to an enlarged scale; and

12 Claims. (01. 193-35) Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan showing a modifiedform of end embracing means.

The form of my invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a conveyor section or unit I0 which, as illustrated, is designed to be connected in articulated relation to like sections, or units, to form an articulated conveyor of any desired length, and arranged on either a curved line, or a straight line, as desired.

The conveyor section l0 comprises a frame construction H, which may be of solid plate material, as illustrated, or angle iron, pipe, or the like, having a base I2 of the general configuration illustrated with the greatest length along the transverse center line and tapering inwardly at [3 toward each side Where it terminates in an upstanding plate [4. Supported on parallel shafts [5, which are mounted between the plates ll of each unit Ill, are two sectional rollers [6 each comprising center roller sections I1 and side roller sections l8 having an outward taper. Each conveyor unit In is supported by a pair of legs I!) which comprise adjustable telescoping sections 20 and 2| held in adjusted relation by set screw 22, the lower section 2! being provided with a conventional roller caster 23 having locking means 24.

The base I! of each unit it! is provided with a male connecting member 25 and a female connecting member 26 for connecting the units in articulated relation by means of a pin 21, or the like. An adjustable end bracing member 28 is provided which consists of a turnbuckle 29- and oppositely threaded rods 30, each of which has a downwardly directed end 3|, adapted to be received in holes 32 spaced along the tapered edges I3. The brace 28 is adjustable in length and may be arranged in any desired pair of the holes 32 to'properly brace the connected units. The top outer corners of end plates M are curved outwardly slightly at 33 to prevent articles or packages being moved over the rollers it from being caught or hung up on the corners of the side plates and to direct the articles back toward the center of the unit.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the units It are designed to be connected in articulated relation and arranged in either a straight line, or a curved line, as desired. The braces 28 hold the adjacent units in the desired relation. The units are adjusted to the desired height by means of the telescoping legs l9 and when in proper position the caster rollers 23 are locked to prevent their movement. The packages orrarticles move over the conveyor sections/by; gravity or they are pushed by hand or moved along by movement of succeeding articles. The individually adjustable legs permit the sections to be banked or tilted around the curves to facilitate movement of the articles and to aid in retaining them on the rollers as they move over the same and around the curved sections.

While a plurality of my conveyor sections may be connected to form any length conveyor, they are particularly useful in providing curved lengths of conveyor between sections of a conventional or standard straight line conveyor "arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 5. In order to connect one or more of my articulated units with a section 34 of a standard straighttlinercon- Veyor, I provide a modified unit 35 which is constructed in the same manner as the units T8, except for the base 35 of the frame which provided with a hinged section 31 adapted to be permit tilting of the individual conveyor sections.

3. In a conveyor having articulated sections, brace means for connecting the adjacent sections comprising a brace bar, skate rollers journaled thereon, and means for adjustably connecting said bar at each end to a conveyor section at selected points between the articulated connection of the section and a lateral side thereof.

4. In a conveyor, separable conveyor units, means for lpivotally connecting the :units in ar- 'ticulatedre'lation, one or more of 'saidunits being provided with a hinged portion carrying said "pivotal connecting means and separate means 1 run said unit for rigidly connecting said unit to the end of a standard conveyor section, whereby said units may be interconnected in a standard 5 conveyor .linetoprovide a curved conveyor porswung down out of the Way (Fig. 6), sothat the unit 35 may be abutted against the edge -38- 0f the standard-section 'The side ,plates 39 are provided with .srneans :for connecting *the unit 'to the standard section 35 whiclrmay'be 'gp'ins w engaged by "hooks-etch the :sidecplates fiZ-of the standard section 314. The iconstruction o'f the unit fsdmay be otherwise :the same asuniti'fi offiigsltoe.

As shown in Fig. 5 my conveyor .units may foe provided with a modified aforrn 'of :side brace member 43 which comprises a :base member 4d "having centrally journaled skate rollers and provided at each end with slotsEB. Fastening "bolts-4'1, provided with'wing'nuts, and mounted :near the sides of the units are received in' the slots "at to 'adjustably connect' the brace members '43 with the units. The skate "rollers 35 tend to urge packages or articles 'WhlChQHlOVB onto them' ba'c'k towards the center of'the units as they move around the turns.

In'Fig. 8 a further modification 'of'a rside bracing means is illustrated. It comprises :a flat spring metal strap-:38 which is slotted at each end-to receive a fastening stud '49 secured in the side' p lates 55.} of the un its' fi i. 'I'he strap A'B' Will function as a brace means and also retain the gOods on the conveyors-s it moves fiarour rd-"the outside of the curved sections. a

'While I have described specific details ofr naterials and construction, I contemplate the u se of other appropriate materials and deta ils of construction within the scope of my invention.

' I claim:

1. A conveyor comprising 'a'plurality c'f'pivotally connected conveyor sections, -eacli of safid sections having a frame provided with forwardly and rearwardly extending male and' female con-- *necting members along the =center 'line, said sections having tapered edges extending'from the center line toward the sides"of-thesamaand individually adjustable brace means, "said brace means being connected at opposite --en'ds to adjacent sections along oneside'whcreby' the- -sections may be arranged in rigidly connected relat'ion to provide said conveyor w ith e'ither a straight or a curved path.

"'2. A conveyor comprising separable -conveyor sections adapt-ed to be "connected together to .for-m an articulated conveyor structure, saii'd -:separab1c sections having :centra'lly arranged forwardly and rearwardly extending pivotal connecting means whereby they maybe -=arranged on either astraight or-curve'd line, in- -div idually adjustable brace means oonnec'ted to sad]ustable supporting means ron' 'eachssec'tion-ao tion.

conveyor section for connecting articulated conveyor sections=with a standard straight dine'ncnveyor section comprising a-framepspaced rollers mounted on said frame, extensionsforwardly and :rearwaitdly son .said :frame adjacent the .center line :of :the same, connecting means ionsaid extensions whereby said section -may Joe connected .in articulated -rel-ation with other similar sections, 11116 "of said extensions being c'etrac'table on :said :Eirame whereby when :said :extension :is retracted :to ca spredeterrn-ined ,posithan mid section maywbeabutted against the-"end :zof an. standard straight line: conveyor section, and separate means on said section jar-aigidly and :releasably connecting::t'he-:same :to "said: standard section 'when'in :abuttm deletion-therewith.

6. A:conveyorveomprisinga :pl-uradity of pivotally connected :cenveyor sections, aeach 10f -;sa-id esectionsihavingia .frameprovided with: forwardly and rearwardly 'extendings'male'a-nd female :connecting :memhers :a'long the i center dine, a :pair of spaced lXOIIGE-S extending transversely'zof :each 'o'fdsaid sectionssai-d sectionsibeingso construct- :edthat they .are *spaced :a substantial "distance from each other :latera'Hy of v:sa'id iconnecting members, adjustable brace means reonnecting isaidsections along 'one side,=;an'd:means on said brace'means cooperating-with therrnllersionsseiii sections for supporting articles :conveyed rthere- :on whereby the sections smay :be :arranged provide said conveyor with either -.a .straigh.t1or :a-curved' path.

. 7. :In a conveyor having articulatedsections, brace means for Lconnecting :adjacent "sections near the sides thereof, saidbrace means nomiphising a base member, a. roller Ejou-rnale'd'zon "said base-member and adjustable :means ior::connectiin'g the ends o'i saidmase memberPtoth'ecconveyor-sections.

in a conveyor-fhaving articulated sections, :rol'lers journaled 'on-;each of :said :sections, pivotal means connecting said sections in articulated relation, brace means spaced laterally of said pivotal conn-ecting cneans, adjustahle' means lfOI' connecting the ends of :said 'brace means Ytmsaid sections whereby said sections may .be braced and held in either straight or curved "relation 'and a=roller on said brace means cooperating with the rollers of said sections'to supportan'd guide the articles being 'transported. on :said Iconveyor. t

aaan articulated conveyor having separable conveyor sections, means for pivotally connecting said SectionsWV-herby :sa'id sections "may be arranged in a straight 'or curved -path, brace means-for connecting adjacent sectionscomprisindividual brace bars of spring material-and means for adjustably connecting the ends of said brace bars to the adjacent conveyor sections to hold said sections in rigid relation to each other in the desired path.

10. In an articulated conveyor having separable conveyor sections, means for pivotally connecting said sections whereby said sections may be arranged in a straight or curved path, brace means laterally spaced from the pivotal connecting means for connecting said sections, and means for adjustably securing the ends of said brace means to adjacent conveyor sections to hold said sections in said path in rigid relation to each other.

11. A conveyor comprising a plurality of pivotally connected conveyor sections, each of said sections having a frame provided with forwardly and rearwardly extending male and female connecting members along the center line, a pair of spaced rollers extendin transversely of each of said sections, said sections being spaced a substantial distance from each other laterally of said connecting members, adjustable brace means connecting said sections along one side and a roller mounted on said brace means between said sections whereby the sections may be arranged to provide said conveyor with either a straight or a curved path and whereby said roller on said brace means cooperates with the rollers on said sections to support and guide articles conveyed thereon.

12. A conveyor comprising separable conveyor sections adapted to be connected together to form an articulated conveyor structure, said separable sections having centrally arranged forward and rearward pivotal connecting means whereby they may be arranged on either a straight or a curved line, brace means for connecting the aligned sections adjacent the sides thereof, a pair of rollers on each section, a cooperating guide roller on each brace means, and adjustable supporting means on each section to permit tilting of the individual conveyor sections.

JAMES J. MASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 824,943 Mathews July 3, 1906 993,737 Thurman May 30, 1911 1,149,647 Harwood Aug. 10, 1915 1,487,634 Waters Mar. 18, 1924 1,809,251 Pflimlin June 9, 1931 1,906,288 Twomley May 2, 1933 1,935,734 Twomley Nov. 21, 1933 2,172,381 Harris Sept. 12, 1939 2,262,443 Anderson Nov. 11, 1941 2,307,389 Carter Jan. 5, 1943 2,346,659 Bruce Apr. 18, 1944 2,384,959 Pearson Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date France Mar. 14, 1923 

